Pat Van Slyke, Ph.D./CCC/SLP

Title:

Associate Professor
Special Education

Programs/Classes Taught:

Special Education Program

SPE 500 Introduction to Exceptional Children and Adolescents SPE 501 Educational and Diagnostic Assessment of Exceptional Children and Adoles. SPE 502 Language Development and Challenges in Children and Adolescents SPE 503 Collaborative and Consultative Teaming and Teaching SPE 506 Frameworks and Perspectives in Special Education SPE 508 Critical Literacy SPE 509 Clinical Literacy SPE 592C Practicum/Teaching Children and Adolescents with Special Needs SPE 533 Early Childhood Special Education Diagnostic Assessment SPE 534 Early Childhood Special Education - Collaboration, Family and Community

Subsequent Certification SPE Coordinator

Areas of Expertise:

Biography:

Language skills are foundational to the process of learning to read, and learning to read is the backbone of academic success. Language and literacy are integrally entwined so that students are able to thrive in the educational curriculum. And who is at the helm in the educational curriculum? Yes, it is the teachers who deliver the instruction, and when students have challenges, many support personnel, such as the speech-language pathologist, special educator, and/or reading specialist, are also involved in the student’s instruction. Who better to instruct teachers and support personnel in the language/ literacy connection than someone who is knowledgeable, who has taught at many different levels, and has observed, assessed and provided intervention for language challenged children? Bringing my knowledge of evidence – based practice (EBP), my clinical expertise, and my understanding of curriculum and instructional standards to educators is my professional mission. To promote through teaching, speaking and writing the following three things: the connection between language and literacy, the relationship that language foundations have in future academic learning, and the link between academic success, early identification, and appropriate differentiated instruction that matches a student’s learning style are my professional commitments. Years ago I read an anonymous poem, which I adapted to fit my life. It goes something like this: In the end, it will not matter how much money I made, or what kind of house I lived in, or if I drove the newest car. What will matter is if I made a difference in a child’s life because he/she can read…..read to learn, read for success, read for fun, AND like to read. Pat Van Slyke, Ph.D./CCC/SLP

CHICAGO DOWNTOWN CAMPUS

NLU’s Chicago campus on South Michigan Avenue occupies five floors of the historic Peoples Gas Building. This landmark building, across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago and Grant Park, is easily accessible by train, bus and car and is surrounded by restaurants, parking lots/garages and shops.

ELGIN

Conveniently located in a fast-growing business district off I-90 and Route 31, NLU Elgin features 10 classrooms with high-tech media equipment; a computer lab with high-speed Internet access; two conference rooms; and comfortable student lounges. Parking is free at this recently remodeled and upgraded teaching site, which now includes wireless Internet access.

NORTH SHORE

Opened in the summer of 2006, NLU North Shore at Skokie is a state-of-the-art modern campus located just off the Edens Expressway near the Old Orchard Shopping Center. The campus includes 44 wireless classrooms equipped with high-tech media equipment; four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, including a walk-in lab in the library; six conference rooms; a public café for beverages and snacks; a student welcome center; a library for research and study; and multiple, comfortable student lounge areas.

LISLE

Located just minutes from the East-West Tollway (I-88), NLU Lisle features 42 wireless classrooms equipped with high-tech media equipment; four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, including a separate walk-in lab in the library; a café for beverages and snacks; a student welcome center; a library for research and study; conference rooms; and six comfortable student lounge areas with wireless access.

WHEELING

Located in one of Chicago's major northwest suburbs, the newly renovated NLU Wheeling includes 20 classrooms with high-tech media equipment, four conference rooms, four computer labs with high-speed Internet access, large student lounge areas with wireless capabilities and interactive video capabilities, and an extensive research library. The site also houses the university library research collection.

FLORIDA (TAMPA)

Established in 1988 and located in one of the city's major business districts, NLU's Florida Regional Center serves students in 13 counties in central Florida. In addition to six classrooms, this location features a conference room, a computer lab with high-speed Internet access, an extensive research library and comfortable student lounges.

WISCONSIN

NLU has a proud history of serving graduate students in southeastern Wisconsin. We currently offer all Wisconsin residents online programs in non-licensure education as well as a variety of business-related degrees.